| |
| 1995, Aug. 16 |
| |
| Pres. Samper announced a 90-day state of emergency, claiming it would enable the government to more effectively combat guerrilla, paramilitary, and organized crime groups. In justifying the decree, Samper noted that 19,450 people had been killed and more than 700 kidnapped since January. Critics claimed the decree was intended to divert attention from mounting evidence that the Cali drug cartel had contributed to Samper's presidential campaign. | 1 |
| |
| 1996, April 15 |
| |
| Leftist rebels ambushed an army convoy near the Ecuadorian border, killing 31 soldiers and injuring 18. The ambush, attributed to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), was the first in a series of major offensives by the rebels, including several attacks (Aug. 30) that left at least 96 soldiers, police, rebels, and civilians dead. | 2 |
| |
| Sept. 10 |
| |
| Vice President Humberto de la Calle Lombana submitted his resignation, claiming that Pres. Samper had lost credibility due to allegations that he accepted a $6 million campaign donation from the Cali drug cartel. | 3 |
| |
| Nov. 25 |
| |
| A report by Human Rights Watch claimed that right-wing paramilitary groups had been incorporated into the Colombian armed forces to conduct a “dirty war” against leftist guerrillas. | 4 |
| |
| |
